GLIDING CLUB

Smooth, refined electric executive saloons from Mercedes and Genesis battle it out

WE'VE the end of an era, but AE now it's back to the future, with a twin test of two cutting-edge electric saloons.

With plenty of space for a battery, they can have a huge range, while the qualities of an EV-smoothness, refinement and performance - are available in abundance.

Mercedes is a brand well known for those qualities, so the EQE has the potential to be one of its most compelling EVs yet.

But there's a newcomer that believes it has done things right. The combustion-engined Genesis G80 ran the E-Class close in 2021, so can the Electrified version go one better?

WHAT IS A REAL-WORLD ROAD TEST?

THE Auto Express Real-World Road Test subjects the latest cars to our rigorous assessment processes, which are focused on buyers' needs.

We consider the merits of each car, not only the way that it drives, but also every aspect important to owners, from the space inside to the usability of infotainment systems.

Equally importantly, we give you a clearer indication than ever of how much you can expect to pay if you place an order today, thanks to our in-depth number crunching.

Mercedes EQE

MODEL TESTED: EQE 350+ Exclusive Luxury
PRICE: £86,345 POWERTRAIN: 1x e-motor, 90kWh battery, 288bhp

OUTSIDE of the AMG variants, what we have here is the highest-spec EQE available. The 350+ Exclusive Luxury trim costs £86,345, while many of the paint finishes are no-cost options, so the final price won't stray too far from that.

Tech highlights

AT first glance, the EQE is hard to tell apart from its big brother, the EQS. Both have a similarly sleek shape - the EQE boasts an impressively slippery drag coefficient of 0.22Cd - and mechanically they have plenty in common, too.